Mexico's Kukulkan Confirmed for Pegasus World Cup

by Gulfstream Park Press Release

December 22, 2018

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Cuadra San Jorge’s Kukulkan, winner of Mexico’s Triple Crown and undefeated in 14 races, has been confirmed for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), the richest race in North America to be contested Saturday, Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Kukulkan, last seen winning the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe at Gulfstream Dec. 8 on Clasico Internacional del Caribe Day, was shipped back to Mexico the week after Clasico and has been galloping at Hipodromo Las Americas.

“We are shipping the horse on 17 of January,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “That’s the date we have planned to fly him to the race. The horse is galloping here in Mexico and we will breeze him twice before he leaves.”

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1.3.2019

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Mexico’s undefeated Triple Crown winner Kukulkan, last seen winning the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe Dec. 8 at Gulfstream Park, will have the services of international champion jockey Frankie Dettori Jan. 26 when he goes to post in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), the richest race in North America.
Gulfstream Park Spanish analyst and announcer Pedro Casella confirmed with trainer Fausto Gutierrez Thursday afternoon that Dettori will ride the 3-year-old son of Point Determined who is undefeated in 14 races.
“He’s really interested to ride,” Gutierrez said. “He will be arriving that week [of Pegasus].”
Kukulkan is scheduled to breeze twice in Mexico before leaving Jan. 17 for Gulfstream.
Dettori, who rode Toast of New York in last year’s Pegasus, is also expected to have mounts in the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), the richest turf race in North America, and $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (G3).
For more information and tickets for the Pegasus World Cup, go to Pegasusworldcup.com.

12.14.2018

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s City of Light, front-running winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last time out, has joined the list of starters confirmed for the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Mike McCarthy said Friday morning from his base at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. that City of Light will make his 5-year-old debut in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus, the richest Thoroughbred race in North America.
City of Light shows a pair of half-mile works over Santa Anita’s main track this month following his 2 ¾-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Nov. 3, his third career Grade 1 triumph, which pushed his career earnings to $1,662,600 from 10 lifetime starts.
“The horse couldn’t have come into the Breeders’ Cup doing any better. After his work on the Sunday before, I was very confident that he would run his race and he did,” McCarthy said. “We’re very pleased with the way the horse came out of the Breeders’ Cup. He’s had a couple of nice works so far. We couldn’t be happier with the way he’s training, and we’re looking forward to taking part in the Pegasus.”
The Breeders’ Cup was City of Light’s third race outside California, the others also coming this year when he won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) by a neck April 14 at Oaklawn Park and ran second to eventual Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Whitmore in the seven-furlong Forego (G1) Aug 25 at Saratoga.
Eight of City of Light’s 10 races have come at a mile or less, though he does own a win at the Pegasus distance in the Oaklawn Handicap. He also finished third in the 1 ¼-mile Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) May 26.
“I think it’s well within him to get the mile and an eighth,” McCarthy said. “Gulfstream is a speed-favoring racetrack and he has plenty of that. He’s rateable, so hopefully we get a nice racetrack and everybody shows up doing the best they can on the day.
“This is what we get up for in the morning, to be able to participate in big races on big days,” he added. “It’s very exciting.”
The Pegasus will be accompanied by the inaugural running of $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on the Jan. 26 program in the newly created $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series. Owners can secure a spot in the starting gate for the Pegasus for a $500,000 fee and will be given preference in purchasing a spot in the Pegasus Turf for $500,000. A $1 million bonus is being offered if an owner should win both races.
Already confirmed for the Pegasus are Hronis Racing’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate; Charles Fipke’s Grade 1 winner Seeking the Soul; Margoth’s Gunnevera, a multiple graded-stakes winner of more than $4 million in purses; and Calumet Farm’s pair of Bravazo and True Timber. Tabor, Magnier and Smith’s Coolmore has also purchased a spot for a horse to be determined.
Audible, the 2018 Florida Derby (G1) winner, is also being pointed to the Pegasus and will prep for the race in Saturday’s $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream. Owned by China Horse Club International, WinStar Farm, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners, Todd Pletcher-trained Audible finished third in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1).
Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Patternrecognition, who defeated True Timber by three-quarters of a length in the Cigar Mile (G1) Dec. 1 at Aqueduct, and Stronach Stable homebreds Something Awesome, a multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire, and back-to-back stakes winner Unbridled Juan are also under consideration for the Pegasus.